Getting into your Ford F150 to go about your business for the day and suddenly, you realize that your car won’t start and makes no clicking noise either. There are very few worse starts to a day.
Ford F150 is one of the most durable vehicles anywhere in the world. However, just like any other automobile, it can develop faults. The most common is a case where it won’t start and makes no clicking noise.
Some folks make it seem like there are only two reasons why your Ford F150 won’t start. But the reality is that it’s not that simple. Some of the most common causes most people are familiar with are loss of fuel and loss of high voltage spark at the spark plugs.
But in this post, I’ll be showing you a list of all the possible reasons why your Ford F150 won’t start and makes no clicking noise.
Possible Reasons Why Ford F150 Won’t Start
1. Dead Or Weak Battery
When your battery is weak or dead, you will not be able to start your car. This is because your car engine can not run without a battery except if it’s an automobile that has an alternator that is large enough to handle all the electrical areas.
Usually, Ford batteries last between 3-5 years, however, your battery lifespan would depend on the type of battery, how you handled the battery, and also the weather condition. Corrosion of the contacts of your car battery leads to loss of contact and reduced current flow, which means that your engine can no longer start properly.
If your F150 refuses to start, you can perform a 12v battery test to verify if the problem is actually from the battery and if the battery is dead, you can jump-start the battery.
12V Battery Test
This test helps you to measure the voltage between the poles and find out the condition of the battery. This test is performed with a Multimeter.
Usually, a healthy car battery should be 12.6 volts but when it is above 14 or below 11.5 volts’ then you might need to replace it.
When measuring the voltage of the battery with a multimeter, you need to ensure that the vehicle has been sitting for at least an hour to enable you to get the accurate “resting voltage”.
Jump Start Your Car
When you perform the test and you discover that the reason for the breakdown is a dead battery then, you can easily jump start it using jumper cables and a healthy battery from another vehicle. To jump-start your F150, you need to ensure that your vehicle donor is parked close to yours so that you can be able to perform the following steps:
- Identify the negative and positive terminals of your car battery and ensure it is clean.
- With the jumper cables, connect the red cable to your battery’s positive terminal.
- Hook the other red cable to the positive terminal of the donor vehicle.
- Connect the black cable to the negative terminal of the healthy battery.
- Connect the last cable to the bare metal in your car’s engine bay.
- When you have properly connected the cables, you can start the donor vehicle and also your car
- Then carefully remove the cables from both batteries starting from the last cable to the first and keep your engine running for at least 10 minutes.
Read: Ford Fusion Wont Start
2. Poor Battery Connection
A car battery is the power source of every vehicle and it converts chemical energy into electrical energy to enable the electrical parts of a car to function properly. Therefore, if your battery cables are not connected to the right terminals then your car won’t start.
To connect your battery properly, you have to connect the positive battery terminal first and then connect the negative battery terminal. To disconnect your battery appropriately, you have to do so in the reverse order –disconnect the negative battery terminal first and then the positive terminal.
3. Clogged Fuel Filter
Your Ford F150 fuel filter can become blocked with so much dirt and this will make the filter clogged. When this happens, your engine will no longer function the way it is designed to function and your car will fail to start when this happens. At this point, the only way to fix the issue will be by replacing the filter.
Read: What Does C and H Mean in a Car
4. Broken Starter
A broken starter is another common issue that can contribute to your car’s breakdown. The purpose of a starter is to start your engine and get your vehicle moving but when it’s broken, you won’t be able to enjoy a ride in your F150.
One of the ways to identify if you have a broken starter is you will always hear a clicking sound when you turn on the engine of your car. You don’t need to worry about this because a broken starter can be replaced.
5. Failed Alternator
An alternator is a generator that generates energy. If your F150’s alternator fails, it will be unable to produce energy and the battery will be unable to charge.
As a result, even if you replace the battery, it will always run out and the engine will not start because the alternator is what generates the energy. Your car alternator can fail as a result of how long you have used it. And the only option for such an issue is a replacement.
6. Fuel Pump Failure
Does your Ford F150 engine jerk sometimes? Perhaps you have your traction control light on and car is jerking? Then, you might need to check your fuel pump. If your car’s engine occasionally breaks down, the car is difficult to start, or the engine performance declines, then your fuel pump could be faulty.
If your fuel pump fails, the engine will not start. The pump generally guarantees that the correct amount of fuel is transferred from the tank to the engine’s injection system under sufficient pressure.
7. Rodent Damage
Another reason why your Ford F150 won’t start could be rodent damage. The creatures creep beneath the car and feed on the cables and wires. This can affect your car and cause it not to start especially if it’s huge damage. You can take it to a car workshop for it to be fixed.
8. Weak Key Fob Battery
This is another common reason why your Ford F150 won’t start. Especially if it’s one of the newer F150 models. If you have a weak key fob battery, you might not be able to start your car using the start/stop button of your car.
If you have a model of F150 that only has a key fob with a start/stop button and no place to insert a key, you can use the back or end of the dead key fob to push the start button while pressing the brake.
Read: Service AdvanceTrac
Conclusion
Ford F150 is indeed an excellent car that is capable of lasting you for years but you also need to understand that it’s not immune to sudden issues like starting problems.
Fixing it can be pretty straightforward. You can find specialist auto-mechanics and spare parts in almost all car parts shops anywhere due to its popularity. You don’t have to panic when you experience a breakdown because it can always be fixed. Troubleshooting every item on the list above will definitely help you identify the reason why your F150 won’t start.
Ugo is a passionate car enthusiast with a Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering degree and hands-on experience in troubleshooting and fixing automobiles.
I combine my electrical and mechanical engineering knowledge with practical skills to address car-related issues.
My love for cars and dedication to educating others led to the creation of Fixandtroubleshoot.com!
